Episode description

I am one of those people who are perpetually trying to lose weight. For as far back as I can remember, “lose 20 lbs” has made my new years resolution list every year. My reason is simple - I want to look and feel better. I want my clothes to fit better. There is enough research to show that losing weight would help me live a longer and healthier life. So I have tried to change my “why” for losing weight to becoming healthier. But the truth is that what motivates me to get off the couch is the hope that one day I will fit into my favorite top from 2013 that I have not had the heart to throw away. What helps me reach out for an apple over ice cream is my old picture as a senior in college when I was my ideal weight. Even though I should lose weight for health reasons, I realize that I have a much higher chance of success if I were to stick to my “why”.

In this episode, Erika Ferszt, an advertising exec and an entrepreneur talks about how she learned the value of sticking to her conviction, of not forgetting her why.

Moodally founder Erika Ferszt was raised in New York City. In her 20+ year career in advertising, she has won over 70 awards for her work, most notably in her role as the Global Advertising, Media & Digital Director at Ray-Ban. In 2015, Erika was hospitalized after suffering stress-related vision loss and became interested in studying the impacts of burnout on employees. Putting her successful career on pause, she completed Post Grad studies in the Neuroscience of Mental Health. Erika combined insights from these educational pursuits with her previous work as a high-ranking ad executive to create Moodally. Moodally offers extensively researched training courses that help employees combat workplace stress through the day-to-day management of their mood. Recently selected as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Ventures, she looks forward to sharing her vision with the world and helping organizations remove work-related stressors and effectively manage stress. Erika lives in Milan with her 15 year old daughter Isabel and their rescue cat Zoe. She loves rock music, travelling, throwing dinner parties for friends, and great conversation. Her primary form of meditation is baking.

Connect with her on LinkedIn. You can also follow Erika at moodally.wellness on Instagram. Erika also hosts free Lunch & Learn presentation on "Mood 101; Everything you didn't know you need to know about your mood." for companies that are interested.

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